The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-04-07

ocrat. But in spite of his politics he stead
lily opposed the aggresSions of slavery,
and advocated the doctrine that the territor-
les should be dedicated to freedom. In one
of his finest speeches in the house he said:
Iglory in New England and New Englands
institutions. There she stands with her free
schools and her free labor, her fearless enter
prize, her ndOmitable energy. With her rocky
hills her torrent streams her green valleys, her
heaven pointed %Jires-there she stands, a moral
monument around which the gratitude of her
country binds the wreath Of fame. while pro-
tected freedom shall repOSc forever at its base
Only a few weeks ago he was here to attend
the annual meeting of the Maine Press asso'
citation, of which he is an honorary member,
and with erect form, flashing eye and reson
ant voice he told of the time when he wa
chore boy, devil and all hands in Il
country printing office before rollers weie
introduced
Hannibal Hamlin was called from the SEN
ate to the vice presidency, and he was one OF
President Lincolns mainstays during the
dark days of the civil war.
1t is said that in the history of our country
there has been but one other instance i'll
which there was full and perfect harmony
between the president and vice president, and
that was in the case of President Jackson and
Vice President Van Buren,. Mr.. Hamlin
spurned Office when to hold it involved the
giving up Of any political principle. He gave
up the lucrative position of collector of Gus
toms at Boston because he could no longer
hold it under the policy enforced by Andy
johnson, who was then president
Since Mr.. Hamlin's retirement he has been
active in every political canvass, appearing
on the stump in this and other states with no
apparent diminution of his power and in
terest While in public life no man asked
Mr.. Hamlin for a reasonable favor that was
not granted. He could get up from his din
ner and the rest and retirement of night to
advocate the just claims of a friend. He
would personally go to the proper department
of the government and remain there until the
question was decided. This gave him great
power and has intrenched him in the hearts
of the people of the state, regardless of party
or sect.
Hannibal Hamlin is not man of wealth.
No "boodle' has ever stuck to his hands He
lives plainly, unostentatiously. His children
are grown up to manhood and gone forth
from the paternal roof On every public
occasion on which he appears he is plainly
the favorite if cheers and hearty greetings
mean anything. He is seen in the streets of
Bangor on the coolest days of winter in his
clawhammer coat, without the unnecessary
adjunct of an overcoat. He walks
miles at a stretch with the alacrity of
boy, just for constitutional I"
He is found in the huts of the poor
and humble, smoking an old T. d. pipe in
comE any with the head of the household. He
Knows everybody and everybody knows him.
IN the load of the lumberman he is often seen
mounted, chatting merrily with the driver
uho is so proud of his companionship that he
will talk about it for years afterward. He
never forgets face and rarely name, and
generally can tell you more of your family
history than you know yourself
His chief relaxation is in fishing. He en-
pioys the old fashioned angle worm for
bait, and discards all the new tangled appli-
ances for capturing the finny tribe He APP
peared before the fishery committee during
The present session, asking for further protec-
tion to fish.
He is exceedingly gay in the ballroom. At
the legislative reunion last winter he parti-
cipated in every dance down on the order,
and then went home in the morning with the
prettiest girl on the floor His life is pure,
sweet, simple, and when you look into his
kindling eye and glowing face you would be
hardly aware that you stand in the presence
of the trusted bosom friend and confidential
adviser of Abraham Lincoln in the darkest
days this country ever saw.
HOWARD OWEN.